The MoneyMinded Financial Literacy Program, aimed to empower and equip coastal fishers with financial knowledge, and know-hows on how to manage earnings from coastal harvests, was held at Salevukoso Village on Vanua Levu.
The program which was held on March 27, was a component of the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) program in collaboration with the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ).
Vika Leba, a training participant and fisherwoman from Delaivadra Village on Druadrua Island said though they regularly obtained money selling their harvests from the sea, they were often unable to plan and save for their future financially.
“This training is a welcome introduction into how we can save and budget our earnings especially for our long-term goals as well,” she said.
Savenaca Nabavuka, a fisherman at Salevukoso Village in Druadrua while expressing his gratitude said he was grateful to USP/ANZ team for bringing the important training to their village.
“Most of us fishers have trouble with managing our earnings so this training will surely help us moving forward,” Nabavuka said.
“I am very grateful to the USP and ANZ team for bringing this training to my village and neighbouring fishing communities”.
Lecturer and USP PEUMP team member coordinating this program Dr Jokim Kitolelei said taking these awareness trainings to fishing communities could be life-changing to skillful fishers who may otherwise had no access to financial literacy programs and qualifications.
“We will continue to invest in MoneyMinded in the Pacific because the financial well-being of these fishing communities is equally important,” he said.
“This MoneyMinded Program will be rolled out as well in other parts of Fiji; followed by Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu in collaboration with the ANZ country offices.
“The PEUMP project was funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden; and housed within the Institute of Marine Resources within the School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS) of USP.”
